Simone Biles Steps Away From X After Heated Online Debate
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account. This came weeks after a public feud with swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines over the role of transgender athletes in female sports.
The discussion started when Biles reacted strongly to Gaines’ criticism of a transgender softball player who led her team to a state championship. The exchange quickly escalated online, drawing sharp comments from both sides and from other public figures.
Riley Gaines Responds to Biles’ Exit From the Platform
Gaines, who has long campaigned against trans women competing in women’s sports, did not hold back. After noticing Biles’ X account was gone, she posted, “Sad to see such a phenom go down like this.”
She added, “Gets rightfully ridiculed for it, apologizes, then deletes her account to pretend it never happened.” Gaines previously competed against Lia Thomas, another transgender athlete, in 2022.
The Tweet That Sparked the Firestorm
Biles’ now-deleted tweet was a direct response to Gaines’ comments on the transgender softball player.
“All of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser,” she wrote. “Instead of bullying, why not support trans athletes or create new spaces that feel safe for them?”
Her tone drew both praise and criticism from the public and other celebrities.
Biles Issues Public Apology After Backlash
After facing backlash, Biles followed up with a more thoughtful message. She said she still believes in both fairness and inclusion in sports but admitted her tone toward Gaines crossed a line.
“I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. It didn’t help for me to get personal,” she wrote. “We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.”
Despite her apology, debate about her original comments continued.
Critics and Supporters Weigh In
The fallout drew more attention when former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and Biles’ ex-teammate MyKayla Skinner criticized her. Skinner accused Biles of bullying rather than promoting inclusion.
At the same time, some fans praised Biles for standing up for the trans community. Her Instagram, where she has over 12 million followers, remains active.
Why Did She Leave X?
It’s unclear why Biles chose to delete her X account while keeping her other social platforms. Some think it was to avoid ongoing negativity. Others believe it was a temporary break from a space that had grown too toxic.
Either way, the conversation she stepped into has now gone far beyond her initial post.
